Surf City is currently experiencing a surge of new bbusinesses moving in, including several dining establishments, entertainment options and shops.

The largest addition is the 40,000-square-foot High Tides & Good Vibes restaurant and entertainment venue, set to open this fall. It will feature a variety of family entertainment options, including arcade games, axe-throwing, darts and bowling.

“We feel like we’ve watched Surf City evolve significantly over the past five years,” said High Tides & Good Vibes developer Eric Shirley. “There has been an influx of amazing new restaurants and shopping venues both on the mainland and the island.

He said High Tides & Good Vibes “should bring a wealth of new entertainment to the area with the possibility of potential future expansion. That could mean go-karts, escape rooms, mini golf. … Honestly, the possibilities are endless.”

Both locals and tourists can look forward to this new business and other new shopping and food venues that will enhance the area’s appeal, said Tammy Proctor, executive director of the Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism.

“Our year-round locals will get the biggest benefit from the creation of bowling leagues,” she said. “Plus, High Tides & Good Vibes will provide an indoor facility for the children to play, and for adults, it will offer us another casual place to gather when the weather is chilly.”

Also slated to open this fall is Cape Fear Seafood’s newest location at 14086 N.C. 50. The 6,500-square-foot building is currently under construction, with Cape Fear Seafood taking up 4,550 square feet and the remainder set to hold a new business selling surf apparel.

Evans Trawick, the founder of Cape Fear Seafood Company, said a number of factors made Surf City a natural choice for the restaurant chain’s next location: Trawick grew up in Burgaw and lived in Hampstead, and his son graduated from Topsail High School last spring. The Surf City location of Cape Fear Seafood Company is set to open this fall.

“Cape Fear Seafood Company will look to make a connection and serve the area locals year-round as we do in all of our locations, as well as serve the large influx of tourists and renters that come to the area in the summer season,” Trawick said.

Operating partners Bill Scott, Jackie Foust-Watts and Mike Harris, who own the three Wilmington-area locations, will own the Surf City location. This will be the eighth Cape Fear Seafood restaurant in Southeastern North Carolina.

The surf shop Rutopia, in the same building as Cape Fear Seafood, will primarily sell the Bali-based clothing brand Rutopia and other surf apparel brands.

“This will be our first physical location in the U.S.,” said Jeff Majewski, who’s overseeing the construction of the building and leasing space to Rutopia. His son Grant is running the shop. “We’re excited to be opening our flagship surf shop in Surf City and becoming a part of the local community.”

Among other restaurants planned in the area is Driftwood Craft Kitchen & Cocktail Bar, a luxury dining experience at 2634 N.C. 210 for which officials have announced construction plans, Proctor said.

In the past year, several other businesses have also opened in the Topsail area, including Paradise Pilates. The Pilates studio just opened an athletic apparel store, Iron & Ivy Activewear, which carries brands such as lululemon, Fabletics and Beyond Yoga at 104 Charlie Medlin Drive in Surf City. The company also opened a location in Sneads Ferry and is about to open a third store in Hampstead.